An effective biotech pitch deck, or corporate slide deck, needs to sell both your science and your company to potential investors.

To help you craft a clear, persuasive deck that delivers results, we’re sharing a series of proven Theoria Creative strategies and templates as a guide. This article is part of From Science to Investment: Theoria’s Guide to an Effective Biotech Pitch Deck, a series dedicated to breaking down each essential component of a winning pitch deck. In the first one we explored the pipeline slide, then we discussed the team slide, sharing valuable tips and templates to help you craft them.

Complete the form at the bottom of this article to request our free PowerPoint file with 3 disease overview templates and one slide with icons!

The disease overview section of your life sciences investor pitch deck is more than just a list of statistics. It’s an opportunity to position your company and frame your story to maximize investor engagement and build confidence in your strategy. At Theoria Creative, we recommend a thoughtful approach to this discussion.

To guide you in crafting a compelling disease narrative, we’ll explore three of the common scenarios and offer tailored strategies for each. But first, let’s examine the essential elements to include in a well-constructed disease overview slide.

The three interconnected components of the disease overview slide

To provide a comprehensive picture of the therapeutic landscape and of your company’s unique position within it, we include three components in every disease overview slide we build for our clients: disease description, disease prevalence, and current standard of care. Populated strategically, these elements are unique to your company’s pitch and work together to give investors key insights about your perspective on the target indication.

1. Disease description (from your unique perspective)

Don’t assume your audience knows everything about the target indication. Keep potential investors engaged by deepening their understanding of the disease while showcasing your company’s scientific know-how. For example, talk about ways your company is poised to target a specific cancer pathway to help a defined patient population.

Focusing on a specific patient population naturally leads the discussion to the next element, prevalence, which can also be described as market opportunity.

2. Prevalence (in your specific niche)

Savvy investors appreciate meaningful figures. Go beyond broad numbers and clearly define your target—your specific patient niche within the broader disease, such as patients with specific biomarkers or a line of care. This demonstrates your understanding of the subgroups and the potential of your product to make a difference in actual lives.

With this potential in mind, we move to our final component, the current standard of care for these patients.

3. Standard of Care (your treatment will change)

Biotech and life science investor presentations often gloss over standard of care (SOC), but SOC is a critical element of your positioning within the disease landscape. By clearly articulating the SOC and how your therapy aims to change it, you will provide the fundamental context for your therapeutic approach.

Strategic Placement of the Disease Overview

Now that we’ve covered what to include in the disease overview slide, let’s explore where to strategically place this information within your overall pitch narrative.

Scenario 1: Lesser-known or less attractive indication

If you’re targeting an indication that may be considered unattractive by investors, your science should take center stage. The trick here is to capture investor interest early in the presentation by leading with your innovations. Then, reveal the specific disease target and frame it through the lens of your solution. This order of operations helps underline the value of your approach and the depth of your knowledge, even if the indication itself isn’t a hot topic.

Scenario 2: Hot indications and trends

While the excitement around rapidly growing markets, like GLP-1, may make the space feel saturated, remember there is room for multiple players. In this scenario, open your presentation boldly by calling out the hot target, while emphasizing how your therapy is better or different. Don’t be shy. Confidently position your company within the trend, demonstrate your understanding of the market dynamics and your ability to capitalize on the tremendous opportunity.

Scenario 3: Is it really important?

When the target market and patient population have limited strategic impact on your corporate story, you may be tempted to drop the disease overview slide altogether. Don’t.

We always add this slide to science pitch decks we build for our clients because it provides a platform to discuss patients and market opportunity, and gives an investor a way to view the possibilities through your corporate lens. Although it may seem like “common knowledge,” and it’s not a story-shaping slide, it is still important information investors want to hear—and should hear from you. When you’re presenting your pitch, you are in control of the journey and the material shared. Don’t lose your edge by letting your audience fill in the blanks with information they heard in your competitor’s pitch.

Strategy over stats

The disease overview slide is more than a simple presentation of facts. It’s a strategic opportunity to showcase your company’s deep understanding of the disease landscape and your commitment to developing truly effective therapies. By thoughtfully considering the placement and content of this discussion within your overall pitch narrative, you can effectively communicate your value proposition and increase your chances of securing funding.

Remember, investors seek companies that not only possess groundbreaking science but also demonstrate a keen understanding of the market and a strategic approach to development. Your disease overview slide is your chance to prove you have both.

Fill in the form below to receive our free file with 3 disease overview slide templates and one slide with icons. Mix and match elements from each slide.

Need help crafting a compelling science investor pitch deck? Contact Theoria Creative. We have years of experience helping life science companies like yours clearly and succinctly articulate their value to investors.